Algae/shock question....

[aylad]

Courtney,

Where in S. Lousiana are you? I'm up near Shreveport, and my pool is in full sun all day with similar temps and humidity conditions as yours. I have found over the years that keeping my CYA at 70-80 significantly drops my chlorine demand.....I do have to keep a range of 5-10 ppm, but I can do that by dosing toward the high end with bleach and then dosing again about 3 days later, give or take a day....so I only have to make additions a couple of times a week unless something happens that requires me to shock it. I usually keep trichlor in my feeder with the feeder turned to the absolute minimum flow (just to keep SOME chlorine going in daily--that alone only keeps my Cl level at about 1.5-2, and I use bleach as the primary chlorine source and for shocking). As CarlD pointed out,your pool right now is ideal for trichlor tab use, and you probably could get away with using primarily the tabs for the rest of this swim season (ours goes 'til late September, and I presume yours does, too). It will lower your pH, and, although I can't explain the chemistry behind it, may go a long way toward solving your TA problems. You wouldn't need it to lower very much--120-150 works just fine in a trichlor pool. Do you have an inline feeder, or can you get a floater that allows you to dial the flow rate?

In order to determine whether the brown stuff in the pool is dirt or algae, test your Cl at night after the sun is down, then test again in the morning before the sun hits the pool. If you're losing more than 1-2 ppm in chlorine, then it's algae and you need to maintain the shock level in your pool for a little longer. If not, then it's most likely dirt that is settling, and vacuuming to waste or brushing the pool to keep it stirred up in the water so the filter can help get it out are your two best options.

Janet

[CarlD]

Thanks Jan.

Assuming it's not live algae (see Jan's test for it again), then you can go to other measures.

I didn't see what kind of filter you have. If you have a sand filter, you can add a little DE powder to it through the skimmer and it may pull out that brown stuff if it's too fine for the sand to trap it. DE is cheap: I'm using the same $8 10lb box for the 4th season now. About 1/4 to 1/3 cup of DE is enough--just enough to raise pressure about 1lb. If you go too high, just backwash and start again.

If you are using a DE or cartridge filter you cannot do this--it does no good on the DE filter and can clog the cartridge filter and damage it.

You should use "Skimmer socks" or their equivalent in your skimmer--they pull out lots of fine, fine stuff. Anyone can use them and they are cheap. I use them all summer but in the late spring and early summer they pull out tons of pollen that we get here in NJ.

If none of these things work, we'll try the next round of ideas.

[court475]

Janet, I'm in Slidell.

I really appreciate the advice from you both! Thanks so much!

[aylad]

Ah, then we have almost the exact same weather conditions, except you catch a lot more crud from the storms coming in from the gulf. I think you'll probably find that it's just dirt that keeps settling back, but if you'll do the test I described before, we'll know for sure.

Janet

[court475]

Just thought I'd update that the brown stuff is still there. I have started using the tablets now. I'm out of DPD power and didn't realize it would be so hard to find, so I'm going to have to order online. I sent my husband to get some at Leslie's and I think it's been on the shelf for 10 years! So I'm kind of at a stand still, I guess. The brown stuff isn't horrible, at least. Oh, and I forgot to have him get skimmer socks, but will when we return the ancient powder.

[aylad]

Courtney,

Here's where I get most of my refills--I've always been very happy with their prices and shipping.. http://www.spspools-spas.com . Is the brown stuff appearing to spread or multiply, or is it simply "there" with no obvious change? And is it on just the floor of your pool, or is it also on the sides? Usually algae will grow on the sides and then on the floor, but if it's dirt, it usually stays on the floor in mostly the same places every time.

Janet

[Watermom]

And, to add to Janet's questions -- does it feel slippery?